“Hamilton has a small-base network of alumni who love to give back.” That was the message from Adrienne Conzelman ’92, a panelist on the Career Center’s latest “What I Did With My Major” session.
Four alumni who majored in art or art history spoke about their career paths and inspired attendees as they recalled being in their shoes.
Conzelman, owner and founder of the art gallery ARC Fine Art LLC, majored in art history. With the help of a Hamilton alumnus, she got a job after graduation that “opened doors and facilitated connections.”
Graham Brodock ’05, CEO and owner of Kris-Tech Wire, was intrigued by the analytical method of studying art history at Hamilton and so double-majored in that and economics. “After graduation, I was fortunate to get a job through an alumnus in California,” said Brodock. He asserted that the most valuable aspect of his education at Hamilton is “the ability to translate ideas, other people’s and my own, into words, and to communicate ideas as well. These are skills that I utilize every single day.”
Art concentrator Chiquita Paschal ’10 is currently a journalist who specializes in podcasting, culture reporting and creative project management. Paschal said that her analysis-oriented art classes at Hamilton helped her to “develop a vocabulary and be reflective about my work and the work of others.” “The core principals I learned in class at Hamilton are troubleshooting, problem solving and brainstorming ideas,”said Paschal.
Emily Crawford ’90, who works for works as a creative and marketing director for a husband and wife team, was also an art concentrator. Crawford started her career as a web designer and currently does creative design, takes photographs and will start making films as part of her job.
“Now I get to be creative all the time, which is something I did not see coming when I graduated,” said Crawford. She added, “Sitting through the critiques of professors is crucial. You cannot take it personally, you can draw on this critique and come up with something better. But you have to listen keenly.”
Conzelman advised student art concentrators to “take advantage of Wellin as a major resource that allows students to work alongside contemporary artists.”
